Discharge and stacking mechanism for space band cleaning machines



Jan. 17, 1956 w. P. DONEHOWER 2,731,159

DISCHARGE AND STACKING MECHANISM FOR SPACE BAND CLEANING MACHINES Filed April 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l 12 F /G.2. 7 F a: l A

2625 23 M, M I M F/G.9. A

l n I """"'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii- IN V EN TOR. WILL /AM P. OONEHOWER A T TORNEV Jan. 17, 1956 w. P. DONEHOWER 2,731,159

DISCHARGE AND STACKING MECHANISM FOR SPACE BAND CLEANING MACHINES Filed April 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G.Z 24 12 I 3+1? INVENTOR. Q W/LL/AM P, DONEHOWER A 7' TORNEV United States Patent DISCHARGE AND STACKIN G MECHANISM FOR SPACE BAND CLEANING MACHINES William P. Donehower, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Maurice Hartzell and Blanche D. Hartzell, Chester, Pa.

Application April 27, 1951, Serial No. 223,424

Claims. (CL 214--6) This invention relates generally to space band cleaning machines and more particularly to the discharging mechanism for such machines, especially of the type shown in the joint application of myself and Richard B. Hamlin, Serial No. 222,462, filed April 23, 1951, and now Patent No. 2,688,413.

It is one object of my invention to provide improved means for discharging the space hands after they have been cleaned so that they may be effectively collected in a magazine and easily and conveniently removed therefrom, as well as to have such means arranged so as to be highly compact and simple in construction, operation and maintenance.

A further object is to provide improved space band discharging mechanism whereby the bands are collected in a substantially horizontal position but stacked vertically in a relatively simple magazine chamber.

A still further object is to provide an improved space band discharging mechanism for a chain feed type of machine whereby the bands are collected in a substantially horizontal position but are stacked vertically with the bands fed to the underside of the stack to raise it up from beneath. I

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the discharging end of a space band cleaning machine of the type shown in said joint application;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of a stack of bands and showing the manner in which additional bands are added to the stack;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the discharge end of the machine with certain parts broken away to show details of construction without any bands in position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the discharge end of the machine showing the initial band being discharged into the discharge magazine;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the whole of the space band in side elevation for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the space band fully discharged into the magazine;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line '77 of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are modified arrangements for lifting the stack to allow successive bands to be fed under the stack.

In the particular embodiments of the invention which are disclosed herein merely for the purpose of illustrating certain specific embodiments among possible others, I have shown the same preferably in a machine of the specific type described in said joint application. This type of machine includes a pair of feed chains, Figs. 4 and 5,. transversely spaced apart and driven around end sprockets 5, one set of 'which is shown at the discharge end. The

remainder of the machine need not be shown as it is the same as in said joint application. The chains 4, as shown in Fig. 4, have a series of chain lugs 6 at spaced intervals along the length of the chain to engage lateral ears 7 at the thin end of the usual tapered space band 8 which is well known in the art. The chain lugs 6 pull the space band between cleaning blocks (not shown) and finally move the bands to the discharge magazine generally indicated at 9.

The extremely simple but highly elfective manner in which I discharge and stack the bands consists in having the horizontal surface 10, along which the bands are moved, terminate preferably in a slightly downwardly inclined surface 11, Fig. 1. At the end of this surface is a vertical abutment 12 of V formation in cross section so as to fit into the customary V-recess 13, Fig. 4, of the space band. The chain lugs 6 carry the band on to this slightly declining surface 11, as shown in Fig. 5, and is finally disengaged as shown in Fig. 6 as the chain lugs 6 move downwardly around the end sprocket 5. The initial band discharged into the magazine will have enough momentum to carry it fully against the V abutment 12 and the rear end of the band tips upwardly as shown.

To facilitate lateral guiding of the band on to the surface 11 I provide a pair of disks 16 and 17 along each side of surface 11 which is substantially just the width of the space band 8. These disks are mounted on sprocket shaft 18 and each disk is provided with a single small radial recess 19 which are transversely aligned to receive the band ears 7 projecting laterally to each side of the disks 16 and v1'7 so as to maintain engagement with the chain lugs 6. The recesses are curved at their edges so as to avoid any interference with the band ears as they are disengaged from the chain lugs. The disks thus effectively guide the bands as they enter the discharge magazine.

From the foregoing disclosure it is seen that when the band rests on the declining surface 11, which is somewhat shorter than the length of the band, its rear thick end 21,

Fig. 6, is spaced vertically above the horizontal surface 10. Hence, as the following band 22, Fig. 2, approaches the stack the thin leading edge 23 of band 22 can readily slide beneath the rear raised end 21 of the preceding band and the chain lugs will continue to move the band 22 underneath the stack to raise it. The stacked bands are preferably tipped up high enough so that the leading edge 23 is caused to initially engage the underside of the lowermost one of the stacked bands at a point to the right of a shoulder 25 formed by the reverse taper 26 on the underside of the bands rear end. This minimizes the possibility of such shoulder becoming caught in the usual V-shaped recess in the thin advancing edge of the oncoming band. The movement of successively following bands insures that all bands are jogged into position against the vertical abutment 12 until finally the magazine is partially or fully filled, depending upon the number of bands being cleaned. The vertical stack 35 of bands may be then readily removed by the operator merely placing his fingers on each side of the stack and lifting them out. Ample space is provided for the operators fingers in that the side walls 24 of the magazine only partially cover the horizontal length of the stack. The disks 16 and 17 also fit, relatively closely, curved recesses 37, Fig. 3, in the lower edges of the side walls 24, the curved recesses terminating in curved entrance portions 38.

If desired, under certain conditions, the horizontal feeding surface 10 may continue horizontally, as shown in Fig. 8, beneath the band stack 35. This continued surface supports the band in such a manner that its upwardly tapered undersurface 26 at the end of the band is spaced above the feeding surface thereby to allow the thin advancing edge 23 of the following band to enter such space and be forced under the stack to raise it. In the modification of Fig. 9 a raised surface 28, shorter than the J length of a band, is provided for supporting the band stack and such surface is connected to'the horizontalsurface by a ramp surface 29. The stacked bands will thus overhang this ramp 29 sufiiciently so that the advancing edge 23 of an on-coming band-can initially contact the lowermost stacked band at a point to the right of'the tapered shoulder 25. In the further modification shown in Fig. 10, the stacked bands-are mechanically raised at their left end by a pin 30 normally-biased downwardly by a spring and pivotally connected to a link 31 which has astationaiypivot 32 whereby a cam 33 on sprocket shaft 18 may raise and lower the pin 30 in timed relation to movement of the on-coming band 34so as to permit it'to move readily beneath the stacked bands and past thepin. This is possible because shaft 18 makes one revolution to each band discharged to the magazine. Thus, broadly, in all modifications means are provided for supporting the stacked bands so that the rear end of the lowermost band is vertically spaced above the advancing edge 'of an on-coming band to permit such advancing "edge to enter beneath the stacked bands and "thereby raise them until the oncoming band 'is finally discharge from 'the chain.

Thus it is seen that I have provided an extremely simple yet highly effective and compact discharging mechanism that permits the bands to be positioned substantially hori- 'zoritally yet stacked vertically through the direct cooperativeaction of the horizontally moving chains which feed thebands to the underside of the'stack to progressively raise it. My improved discharging mechanism also maintains the length of the machine to amiiiimuin in 'that the stack is disposed immediately above the sprocket 5 whereby the discharging mechanism adds only the length of one space band to the overall length of the machine.

It will, of course, be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

'1. A discharging mechanism for a machine to clean space bands which have an elongated body portion and a telescoping portion provided with ears extending freely laterally of the widest part of theban'd at the leading end of 'thetelescoping portion and in which machine the bands are successively moved horizontally in lengthwise position one after the other and in longitudinally spaced relation to each other with the band ears in the leading position comprising, in combination, means forniing asubstantially horizontal feeding surface along which the bands are 'fed, means for supporting a' v'er'tical stack of bands sothat the lower rear edge of the lowermost band in the stack is spaced above the plane of 'said surface to receive the leading edge of an on-coining band, transversely spaced longitudinally movable feeding chains having lugs thereonfor engaging the lateral ears said lugs being continueusly movable in one direction alongsideofthe telescoping portion of the band for pulling thelbandsto feed the same in their expanded telescopic condition along said surface and beneath the 'stac k'whereby the band can continue to be pulled under the stack to raise and simultaneously maintain the telescopic portions of the pulled band in its expanded condition, a set of sprockets disposed intermediate of the ends of the stack and around which saidehains travel in a downward direction to disengage the chain lugs from the hand cars after the bands are pulled beneath the stack, said bands having a V-shaped recess in their forward ends, and a forward abutment whose cross sectional area is of V-shape to be received in said V-sha'ped band recesses thereby to vertically-and transversely align the forward ends of the bands as they are discharged.

2. A discharging mechanism for a machine 'toclean space bands which havean elongated bodyportio'n and a telescoping'portion provided with ears extending freely laterally of the widest part of the band at the leading end of the telescoping portion and in which machine the bands are sueeessivelymoved -horizontally-in lengthwise position one after the other and in longitudinally spaced relation to each other with the band ears in the leading position comprising, in combination, means forming a substantially horizontal feeding surface along which the bands are fed, means for supporting a vertical stack of bands so that the lower rear edge of the lowermost band in the stack is spaced'above the plane of said surface to receive the leadingedge'ofan on-coining band, transversely spaced longitudinally movable feeding chains-havinglugs thereon for engaging the lateral ears, said ln'gs being continuously movable in one direction alongside of the telescoping portion of the bandfor pulling the bands to feed the same -in their expanded telescopic condition along said surface and beneath the stack whereby the band can continue to be pulled under the stack to raise and simultaneously maintain the telescopic portions of the pulled band in its expanded condition, a set'of sprockets disposed intermediate 'of the endsof the's'ta'ck and around which said chains travel in --a"downward direction to disengage the chain lugs from the band ears after the bands are pulled beneath the staclqand laterally spaced rotatable disk guides for receiving the bandsin the space between the discs and for engaging the sides of'the bands to guide the same'as they are fed into the band stack.

'3. A discharging-mechanism for a machine to clean space bandswhich have an elongated body portion and a telescoping portion provided withears eirtending freely laterally of the widest part of the band at the leading end of the telescoping portion and in which machine the bands are successivelymoved horizontally in lengthwise position one after the other and in longitudinally spaced relation to each other with the band ears in the leading position comprising, in combination, means forming a substantially horizontal feeding surface along which the bands are fed, means for supporting a vertical stack of bands so that the lower rear edge of the lowermost band in the stack is spaced above the plane of said surface to receive the leading edge of an on-coming band, transversely spaced longitudinally movable feeding chainshaving lugs thereon for engaging the lateral ea'rs, said lugs being continuously movable in one direction alongside of the telescoping portion of the band for pulling the bands to feed the same in their expanded telescopic condition along said surface and beneath the stack whereby the band can continue to be pulled under the stackto raise and simultaneously maintain thetelescopic portions of the pulled band in its expanded conditiom'a set of sprockets disposed intermediate of the ends of "the stack and around which said'chains' travel in a downward direction to disengage the chain lugs from the band ears after the bands are pulled'beneath the stack, said stack supporting means includin'g'vertieal stationary sides for'laterally'"supporting each side of the stack of bands, and laterally s aced rot'ating disks adjacent the lov'verf'ends of 'saidsides' to receive bands in thespace' between the rotating discs and 'to laterally position the bands as they are discharged into the stack.

'4. A'di'scha'rgi'ng mechanism for a machine 'to'clean space bands which have an elongated 'b'ody'portion and a telescoping portion provided with ears extending freely laterally of the widest part of the band at the leading end of the telescoping portion and in'whi'ch machinethe bands are successively 'rnoved horizontally'in lengthwise position one after the other and in longitudinally spaced relation to each other withthe ban'd ears in the leading position comprising, in combination, means forming a substantially horizontal feeding surface along which the "bands are fed, means for supporting a vertical stackof bands so that the lower 'reaf'edgeof the lewerriio'st band "in 'the stack is spaced above theplane of 's'aid surfa'ce to receivethe 'leadin'g' edge: of 'anon-con in'gband, transversely spaced longitudinally movable feeding chains having lugs thereon for engaging the lateral ears, said lugs being continuously movable in one direction alongside of the telescoping portion of the band for pulling the bands to feed the same in their expanded telescopic condition along said surface and beneath the stack whereby the band can continue to be pulled under the stack to raise and simultaneously maintain the telescopic portions of the pulled band in its expanded condition, a set of sprockets disposed intermediate of the ends of the stack and around which said chains travel in a downward direction to dis engage the chain lugs from the band ears after the bands are pulled beneath the stack, and discs opposed to each other and mounted for rotation with said sprockets about their axes, said discs being disposed between said sprockets and having peripheral notches through which the chain lugs extend to maintain engagement with the lateral ears of the band while it is being drawn beneath the band stack.

5. A discharging mechanism for a machine to clean space bands which have an elongated body portion and a telescoping portion provided with ears extending freely laterally of the widest part of the band at the leading end of the telescoping portion and in which machine the bands are successively moved horizontally in lengthwise position one after the other and in longitudinally spaced relation to each other with the band ears in the leading position comprising, in combination, means forming a substantially horizontal feeding surface along which the bands are fed, means for supporting a vertical stack of bands so that the lower rear edge of the lowermost band in the stack is spaced above the plane of said surface to receive the leading edge of an on-coming band, transversely spaced longitudinally movable feeding chains having lugs thereon for engaging the lateral ears, said lugs being continuously movable in one direction alongside of the telescoping portion of the band for pulling the bands to feed the same in their expanded telescopic condition along said surface and beneath the stack whereby the band can continue to be pulled under the stack to raise and simultaneously maintain the telescopic portions of the pulled band in its expanded condition, a set of sprockets around which said chains travel in a downward direction to disengage the chain lugs from the band ears after the bands are pulled beneath the stack, and discs opposed to each other and mounted for rotation with said sprockets about their axes, said discs being disposed between said sprockets and having peripheral notches through which the chain lugs extend to maintain engagement with the lateral ears of the band while it is being drawn beneath the band stack, and said discs being spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the width of the body portion of the space bands so that the opposed annular surfaces of the discs provide revolving guiding surfaces for the hand during the stacking operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,106,272 Ayres Aug. 4, 1914 1,819,841 Hudson Aug. 18, 1931 1,959,342 Butler May 22, 1934 2,119,561 Smith June 7, 1938 2,231,196 Romyns Feb. 11, 1941 2,435,072 Feldtkeller Jan. 27, 1948 2,549,975 Knitter Apr. 24, 1951 

